Kate Middleton "wasn't prepared to stand by" and let Harry and Meghan tear down the Royal Family's reputation, according to a royal expert.
It recently emerged that the Princess of Wales allegedly intervened in the Royal Family's statement which responded to the shocking racist allegations made in Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview according to author Valentine Low.
Royal expert Jennie Bond has now stated that she is not "surprised" by these claims as she praised the future Queen and added that Kate has "earned her place" as one of the senior members of the Royal Family, the Express reports.
Bond exclusively told OK! : "[Kate] knew that the family's reputation was on the line and, along with William, she wasn't prepared simply to stand by and let that reputation be trashed.
"I think people will admire her for resisting the age-old strategy of ignoring criticism, however damaging it can be."
The expert continued to praise the 41-year-old and her role in the monarchy as she added that she is "playing the long game".
Ms Bond explained: "She has always kept her eye on, 'This is my life and my historic path and I am going to be Queen one day."
She described Kate as having "soft power" and also compared her to the late Queen Mother who she believes she shares similar qualities with.
She said: "People always used to describe the Queen Mother as ‘steel in a velvet glove’. She was always charming, gentle and much admired.
"But, she was also the strength behind her husband, George Vl, and at the Palace her opinion counted.
"I think Catherine has some of those same qualities."
Bond added: "[Kate] has learned the craft of being royal over a number of years and earned her place as a senior member of the family.
"Gradually, she has also earned the respect of the public and, I believe, of the rest of the family. We look at her now not just as William’s wife, but as our future Queen."
In his book, Low claims that a "milder statement" was originally organised in response to Harry and Meghan's bombshell Oprah interview during which Meghan accused an unnamed member of the Royal Family of questioning how dark Prince Archie's skin would be before he was born.
However, the Prince and Princess of Wales urged for it to be "toughened up" with Kate in particular pushing for the "recollections may vary" line to be included in the statement.
He added: "It was Kate who [sic] clearly made the point, ‘History will judge this statement and unless this phrase or a phrase like it is included, everything that they have said will be taken as true’."
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